TDM 007

[etrayamods]

content warnings for this TDM include: violence, potential death, body horror, physical transformation, loss of senses, loss of autonomy ⏵ arrival⏴ Arrival does not happen as Aurora usually plans for it. New characters are introduced to the AI, then informed of a mission that they are required to participate in before they can return to their home base of Etraya. A world called Aphaia is falling apart, and while there is nothing they can do to resolve this broken world, they can participate in the Gamerunner's Stratagem. Their mission is simple: step through the glowing purple portal that Aurora creates once they've had time to listen to her, and survive until a similar portal reopens in front of them, allowing them to return to Etraya. The Gamerunner's Stratagem is something they have been working on building for quite some time. She informs all newcomers that they will not be present on this world that long: their exit will appear to them exactly when it's meant to, allowing them to meet the others who have been recruited to save their worlds. She provides each and every arrival with an earpiece, allowing them to communicate with the other Etrayans. Aurora suggests taking a bag full of supplies along with them, which she will fill with a few generic items as well as any specific items they may need: synthetic blood for vampires, protein bars for those who may burn through calories faster, medication for anyone who requires it. ⏵ aphaia ⏴ Aphaia is a neon-lit, chaotic planet. Cameras are everywhere, every action and inaction is judged by the 'audience'. Towering holograms advertise upcoming events while flashing leader boards track the most "popular" players. Contestants are thrown into challenges, many of which are games of skill, survival, and deception all to keep the viewers entertained. Not participating is an option! However, avoiding playing along and not putting on a show will quickly cause participants' score to go down, and scores that reach zero? Well. Unfortunately, there are only so many resources left on Aphaia. Their wildlife has died off, their planet is falling apart, and most others in this galaxy were either destroyed from the inside out, or warring planets trying to gain control of remaining resources destroyed them to avoid others getting involved. Their natural resources are depleted, and only those who manage to keep their scores up are given the luxury of having any supplies. As soon as one steps foot on Aphaia, as soon as they breathe, they intake nanotechnology which tracks their oxygen consumption, their food, everything they do or need. As soon as their scores reach zero? They disappear. There one moment, and completely gone the next. Their communicators go offline, and while everything they were carrying will be left behind, no one will be able to find them. They are simply--gone, erased from existence. This is a death and counts as a death as outlined in the game FAQ! Please keep this in mind. "Points" that go towards their total score will be assigned to contestants from the moment they drop down on planet. This will be visible using the HUD on their earpiece, and will be randomized at the beginning. For the sake of the TDM, we ask that no one be assigned Paragon initially, but you're free to use other ranks! The possible rankings are: 100: PARAGON 99-80: LUMINARY 79-70: CHAMPION 69-50: CONTENDER 49-30: UNDERLING 30-0: SHADE Ranks may change daily, or even hourly depending on the kind of situation one has found themselves in. Are they having a very public break up in which it comes out that they wronged their ex? They may go from a Champion to a Shade before they can even blink. Did they save a defenseless reporter from the big bad villain of the week? They may find themselves quickly elevated up to Luminary and given all the benefits that comes with being upper class. The world is their oyster, they only need to figure out how they'd like to utilize it! Aphaia is broken up into four districts. The Colosseum is a dynamic battle arena where combatants fight for entertainment, with shifting environments controlled by the audience. Victories earn points, while losses depend on performance. The Symposium is a lavish social hub for top contestants, where alliances and betrayals are made under the audience’s watchful eye. The Agora is the public center of Aphaia, where contestants engage with the audience through polls, interviews, and challenges to maintain popularity. It also houses the contestants in high-rise apartments. And Backalleys provide hidden spaces with intentional blind spots for secret dealings, though the Gamerunner is always aware of what happens there. ⏵ st★rlight soirée ⏴ Something special is happening in the Colosseum. Lights flicker as the arena shifts, rearranging itself into a grand, glittering ballroom - if a ballroom had stadium seating, paparazzi drones, and an ever-changing floor plan designed to disorient those within it. Silver chandeliers pulse with artificial starlight, their glow refracted through the crystalline floors. Music swells, but it sounds - unnatural. It thrums through your veins, setting your blood alight with the urge to dance. Why is the ballroom designed as if intentionally put together to throw off one's balance? Well, it's time for the Panopticon Prom, of course! The Panopticon Prom isn't just an adventure in dancing and impressing your most recent crush. It's a test of endurance, cunning, grace, and charm. The floor beneath your feet moves as if it has a mind of it's own, shifting to the beat like a living creature all of it's own. It tilts, undulates, even vanishing in sections to keep dancers on edge. After all, it's difficult to keep up one's pace if they're falling through a hole in the floor to the foam pit below. Drones zip through the air, catching every stumble, every misstep, and every attempt to throw off others on the dance floor. This is a competition, after all; and what fun is a dance battle without having the freedom to thwart someone else on their road to victory? The rules are simple: You must dance with a partner. This can be an ally, an enemy, or someone you intend on using as a stepping stone to victory. It matters not, as long as you have one hand (or limb) on them at all times. The longer you last, the better your chances. Endurance is the name of the game, meaning one must pace themselves on the dance floor. While epic twirls and impressive moves will garner more attention, it may also hurt your chances in the long run. You may sabotage others by throwing them off balance, but keep in mind: everything is televised, and it won't stay secret for long. The arena adapts to the chaos. Expect sudden obstacles, environmental shifts, and sudden changes in the music's tempo. Gravity may shift, walls may close in, but participants can't let that stop them - they must continue to dance, if they wish to win. The audience is watching. Who will make the final cut and become Prom King and Queen? Everyone is vying for the titles: it doesn't matter what rank you started at when you joined the Panopticon Prom. Whoever wins becomes a Paragon until their points drop. There aren't many opportunities to sail through the rankings, but this is a sure way to do it. As long as they can keep up. ⏵ casino royale ⏴ Out in the Agora, another popular quarterly event is being set up! The Casino Royale has been destroyed countless times, but it seems as if the Gamerunner just can't let it go - every time it gets knocked down, it gets rebuilt. There is one rule. One must take a turn at the revolving wheel just inside the door as their entry fee, and whatever the wheel lands on, they must maintain until they exit the building for the night. Sometimes, this is easier: an effect they have no control over and cannot undo even if they wanted to. Sometimes, this is more difficult: an assigned task they must complete. Failure to abide by the wheel once means receiving a penalty. Twice? Certain death if caught by any employee. The wheel's effects are as follows: 1 You must speak entirely in rhyme. 2 Your body has become unnaturally delicate. The smallest injury hurts like a fatal wound. 3 You must avoid stepping into any sources of light. Doing so causes massive burns to appear on any area of your skin where light has touched. 4 You have been transformed into an animal! You can still think as you had before, but you cannot speak or communicate easily. 5 You have been cursed with supernatural strength, but cannot control it. 6 Time doesn't flow normally for you anymore. Each mistake you make makes you visibly younger, slowly erasing your experiences, skills, or even memories. 7 You can no longer form your own words, but only repeat what others have said to you. 8 You cannot meet another person's gaze. 9 You can no longer turn around, physically or metaphorically. If you try to return where you came from, you'll find that the pathway no longer exists. 10 You are given a specific letter that you must avoid using out loud entirely. "A"? Better hope you know enough words without one. 11 Every time you speak, your words come true - but never in the way you intended. Trying to control this is futile; the monkey's paw curls with every new sentence. 12 Within the casino, you lose the ability to feel anything. No pain, no pleasure, no warmth, and no cold. At first it may feel like a blessing - until you realize you cannot feel hunger, or tell if you're injured. 13 Regardless of if you've drunken anything, you still act inebriated. The effect only gets worse the longer you stay. 14 No one can see you. You are invisible, even if you are still able to reach out and touch or converse with those around you. 15 Any special ability you have is gone. You are reduced down to what an average human being is capable of - regardless of if you are human. 16 Violent impulses become impossible to ignore. You are rage incarnate, and you will be heard. 17 Every time you make a decision - to walk into an area, to start a conversation, anything, a small thread pulls loose from your clothing or your skin. Keep making choices, and you may become entirely undone. 18 You may speak freely, but for every syllable you say, your ability to hear slowly fades. You may want to watch your word count - too many, and you may not be able to hear at all. 19 Perhaps you arrived with a friend, or beside a stranger. It matters not: whoever came in either just before or just after you, you feel a powerful urge to protect them to the point of aggression. 20 Love is in the air - at least it is for you. Every time you meet someone's gaze, you feel the need to try and make them fall in love with you, through whatever means necessary. The casino is alive with the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the steady whirl of the roulette wheels. Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over velvet-lined tables, where fortunes are made and lost with the flick of a wrist. But something feels. . . off. The dealers never blink. The cards never seem random. And the house always wins - always. Maybe it's just paranoia, or maybe this casino is something more than just a den of chance. Tonight, you're not here just to play; you're here on a mission. You've arrived dressed to kill, blending into the sea of bodies filling the casino's floors. But you're not here to win points or boost your social standing - you're here to win intel. Somewhere in this casino is a single flash drive containing information on just how Aphaia maintains their system. The only problem? The House knows someone is coming for it. After all, they're well-aware of the game: whoever retrieves the flash drive will obtain information on how to flip the script, to change the rules of the game to fit their wants and needs, rather than following the current Gamerunner. After all, this is the Gamerunner's Stratagem that Aurora has sent them out on! Many apply for 'employment' within the Casino Royale in hopes of getting insider information on where the flash drive is hidden and what it looks like. However, it seems that even the employees have no clue where it has been hidden. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ This is an extension of our Aphaia Mission! We have included enough information in this post that catching up to current in game logs isn't necessary to play with it, but you are welcome to use any part of the Aphaia setting in your prompts as you'd like. Current players are also welcome to bring the events from this TDM into their in-game threads. This mission can happen outside of time as needed! Incoming characters will find themselves introduced to Aphaia as they arrive. Current characters may find Aurora calling on them to visit Aphaia after the current mission for the Gamerunner's Stratagem. Characters already in game are welcome to post to the TDM, too! Please mark them as current characters in your header. Threads can be kept as game canon as long as both characters get into the game! Please direct all questions relating to this log to our mod queries comment! All other questions can be directed to our FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria listened to all this with a thoughtful frown, blue eyes watching him closely and seeing the frustrated body language. He seemed to be so similar to the Shadow she knew, but, he claimed that he wasn't.

She was a Robotnik, with that same intelligence that ran through her family. But considering she had never encountered any other 'universe' save her own, this might take a hot minute.]

Did...a white haired woman named Aurora bring you? [She asked suddenly, wheels turning in her mind as she tried to understand.] She told me that I was summoned to help save my world. I still have no idea why but...I didn't have time to ask her to elaborate before I was sent here.

[thelightshines]

[He's not expecting it to make immediate sense. It still doesn't to him. Along with why did Aurora felt she should be brought to this dangerous place?]

Yes. [He doesn't know her history, but he's assuming this Maria is just a normal girl as well.] She didn't tell me. I worked it out when I had a run in with another named "Shadow". [He is going to withhold the detail that they fought upon first encounter.

...Wait, why was he even being considerate with her? She just shares her name, that's all. There's no reason for him to give her any time. Just take her somewhere safe, and if this one's the other Shadow's Maria, they can handle it. But something...keeps him here, trying to talk her through this. Was he doing it because he wanted to, or because her Shadow is not present that he felt this need to stick with her? Action unexplainable. Curiousity, if all Shadows share this connection with "Maria".]

[dreamsofearth]

[When he mentioned another Shadow, Maria's eyes went wide as things started to come together.]

Wait....so....that wasn't you that well...um....caused a panic in the Agora earlier today? That's where I found him. You....Shadow... [She unclenched her hands in her lap and reached up to rub her forehead. This was a bit much.] I lost track of him during all this madness and...we got separated. I came here to the colosseum thinking he'd end up here at some point. But I-I wasn't expecting a dance.

[She lowered her head. Finding herself confiding in him even though it was dawning on her that it wasn't the other Shadow. The one that knew her.] I've never even been to a dance before. I was always so sick...[She murmured, looking down at her hands in her lap.]

[thelightshines]

[His ears twitch, brows raised. She already ran into the other one? And she confirms with her words that he is her Shadow. Unless there's a third. Please let there not be a third one. Or at least they aren't prone to just immediately attack on sight.

He sighs, shaking his head. Eitherway, he should figure out how to contact them then. Definitely not going to leave her alone now until they arrive...he really hopes they don't start another fight with him. He starts to reach for his earpiece, pausing as she starts to talk about the dance. How she never got to go to one. He glances toward the colosseum for a moment, then back to her. A little detail she let slip makes him curious, concern.] You're sick?

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria nodded with a small smile.] Yeah. Neuro-immune Deficiency Syndrome. There's no cure yet and it's terminal. [Her Grandfather had created Shadow to see if his unique physiology could provide a cure for her with the secrets of immortality. But those dreams hadn't come to pass before everything happened.]

Aurora told me that while I'm in Etraya that it would be in remission, similar to when I was on the Ark. But...relapses can still happen. [There had been that reassurance that the terminal aspects would be on pause at least, but it didn't mean that it wouldn't rear its ugly head now and again.]

[thelightshines]

[He doesn't know what those big words mean, but it sounds serious enough. An incurable disease can be understood. With every new detail he gains from Maria, yt gets his thoughts running. They way she just ran up to hug him earlier, he wouldn't think she was really sick. A realization that the other Shadow...they didn't have a Maria free of any illness like he did. A picture starting to form in his mind of what their relation would have been like.

His expression softens. Though she seems fine and claims this place is keeping the illness at bay, there is worry written on his face.]

...I'll try to contact the other Shadow. [He doesn't have a means to handle this if she does relapse. So the best course of action is contact the one who does. Let's hope they actually respond. He walks over to stand at her side, tapping the earpiece. A digital HUD appears before his face. It never stops fascinating him how a screen can just, appear like that.

It currently just shows various news, people's scores and ranking. His own score on display that's been gradually rising, though he doesn't know how or what he's doing for it to happen. He isn't going to complain while sitting comfortably at the halfway point of fifty though.] Do you know how to use this? [Figure he ask before trying to contact them himself. They might be more receptive to her than him.]

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria watched as Shadow approached to stand next to her, reaching up to the ear piece. She gasped, surprised, when he touched it and this lit up screen? But not a screen flashed up in front of his face.] Oh!

No I...didn't know it could do that! I put it on because I was told it will help translate languages in real time. But....here, let me see.

[She reached up to the ear piece that was resting on her ear, touching it and seeking whatever Shadow had touched on his to make the screen appear. She must have hit something because suddenly a soft green screen suddenly appeared suspended before her face.] Oh wow! I've never seen anything like this. And things are pretty advanced on the Ark! [She'd seen things along the lines of holographic displays in her Grandfather's lab before, but nothing like a personal device like this.]

I was told by Aurora that I could use this to contact other....other Etrayans? But I haven't figured out how yet.

[thelightshines]

[She keeps bringing up the Ark, but he has no idea what that is. Maybe this Ark is like the military base he was staying at? Not a pressing detail to know right now.]

I haven't done it myself. [He did eventually find the courage to ask someone how to use it, but he hasn't tried doing anything with the earpiece since. Who would he even contact? He sits down beside Maria so she could see. He wouldn't know how to explain whatever he's doing, so she can just watch while he tries to figure things out. There...should be a contact button? Probably the button that says [CONTACT] at the top right. Just pressing the screen will make it do something? The news flash is replaced with a list of names and user. It's alphabetize, so he just has to scroll down to find the other Shadow in the "S" category. There is a shortcut, but he didn't catch it.

There's a red symbol beside the other Shadow's name once he finds them. He doesn't know what that means, and the username is simply [Default]. Huh. He just has to select the name now.] . . . [So many scenarios play in his head for how this interaction could go. None of them great, but this is more important than how he feels. The name lights up and the screen switches to an image of a tower of sorts with lines rippling from it, along with an empty profile image. There's a sound that starts playing repeatedly in his earpiece too. He thinks that's a ringtone. Everytime the humans used a telephone in those movies he had watched, it would make a sound before reaching whomever on the other side. He just...has to wait now.

If they don't answer, then at least now he can help Maria try to reach them herself.]

[limiterrings]

[ he's not in the best condition, frustrated as ever after losing the young girl for a... fourth time. it's getting underneath his fur, he trades anger for determination, but there are little things that still tick him off. he has to find her, he knows that she has to be somewhere. damn that crowd from before, the way they suffocated them both towards the end of their reunion from awe and excitement. during it, it seemed the crowd had doubled in numbers, putting themselves between him and maria in hopes to have another suspenseful scenario to raise the ratings.

in the beginning, he said he wouldn't be used for their entertainment, but somehow... he's put into that position against his will. ]

Where is she?

[ he snarls, anger on his face as he's already holding someone by their clothes to keep them in place. he won't kill, even when everything in his body says to do so, he knows that he has to do better. that's why it's in the form of intimidation, and his grasp only tightens until a beeping sound plays in his ear.

THELIGHTSHINES is calling you...
THELIGHTSHINES is calling you...
ANSWER or IGNORE?

with a twitch of his ear, he realizes it's that damn earpiece he's been wearing. it asks for so much, interjects at horrible times, and he doesn't even know who the hell that is supposed to be. ]

I told you I'm busy.

[ even with that answer, the automated voice repeats again.

THELIGHTSHINES is calling you...
THELIGHTSHINES is calling you...
ANSWER or IGNORE?

the alien in his grasp is already shuddering in fear, and rather than breaking their necks, the hedgehog throws them onto the floor. if they knew something they would have given him the information by now. ]

Ignore.

[ [default] has ignored your call.

at least it didn't say that no one picked up. ]

[thelightshines]

. . . [The longer the wait, the lower his brow goes. And then it stops ringing altogether, twice. Than nothing. Curious if the other treated these earpiece the same way he did. Just there for the sake of it being required, but does nothing more with it. Or maybe they didn't have it by them. Doesn't seem likely though.] I'll try one more time. [If nothing, then Maria can take a turn. It starts to ring again.]

[limiterrings]

[ that damn earpiece goes off again much to shadow's dismay, but even his irritation of possibly telling the person off on the other side is tempting.

on the other side, the younger hedgehog can hear someone picking up, and in the background someone mumbling how "they don't know anything." ]

What do you want?

[ someone doesn't sound too happy. ]

[thelightshines]

[He thought that was going to be it, until the last ringtone doesn't play. Instead there's a bit of a commotion and then a very demanding voice, almost yelling. This is the first time he's actually heard the other's voice now that he thinks about it. A moment's pause, cause 1) they picked up 2) that's what they sound like?

He better say something quickly before they hang up.]

I have Maria. [Precise, to the point. It is only on audio right now, so there's only his voice and no visual.]

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria is quiet, fiddling with her own ear piece with a quietly focused look as the other Shadow (wow that was so strange), tried to contact the Shadow that she had met earlier. She managed to find the contact list after observing what Shadow did.] Ah...looks like I need to make a....user name? [She muttered to herself as she noticed she was called 'Default'. There were other names listed as 'Default' as well. Maybe they were new arrivals like her?

She hears Shadow speak, and she looks over. His words were brief and to the point, but it told her that the other Shadow had been reached. She leaned close, hoping that Shadow's ear piece would pick up the audio.]

Hi Shadow it's okay! I'm safe with the ah...other Shadow. [She felt a rush of relief. She'd been worried since they lost track of each other earlier.]

1/?

[limiterrings]

[ it echoes into his ears, an unknown voice that states their purpose. shadow stops in place, a growl leaving from between his teeth. they have maria? it may not be true, but something about the way they say it so matter-of-factly irritates him, and with how everything has been going so far. ]

You better hope you don't have a damn thing, because if you have her, if you even touched her. I'll fucking break you in half.

[ they come out as threats, promises even.

he should have stayed by her, he shouldn't have allowed her to escape his sight. a sort of rage flickers inside of him, building and building. ]

I'll show you Hell before I send you there for your transg—

2/?

[limiterrings]

[ his ears twitch at the sound of another voice chiming in, his heart drops... did she hear any of that. it's one of these times that he hopes not considering what they went through before.

he was hoping for "help me shadow, i'm not okay!" but instead... she's fine? she's with...

who? various thoughts run through his mind from disbelief to growing unsure all the way to his eyes briefly widen. ]

3/3

[limiterrings]

Maria!?

[ shadow calls out, he wants to warn her, but that would put her in jeopardy. what if he does something to her considering him and that hedgehog has only met briefly. ]

Where... are you?

[ from the sound of things, it doesn't sound like he trusts anything about this. mostly wary. ]

[thelightshines]

[And their one and only encounter did not leave a very good impression on Shadow. Could he taunt the other after what they did? Sure, but it be out of pettiness. He's above that. So he sits there, listening to them scream threats at him. Damn, do all they know is violence? His left ear twitch irritably, with a deadpan expression. "I like to see you try" at the tip of his lips.

Is this what his Maria deals with??? No, not with how they respond after Maria chimes in. They shut right on up real fast. Further confirmation they are indeed together, with the way they respond aftet hearing her. A complete 180 from their behavior just a moment ago. So they can speak and act outside of violence. Amazing with sarcasm on top. He takes a deep breath before calmly responding to their question.] By the colosseum. [He leans slightly towards Maria, in case she wanted to say anything more.]

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria might not be aware exactly what Shadow is saying, but she was sitting close enough to hear that he was yelling on the other side of the line. Going by the flat look on this other Shadow's face, it was probably not that pleasant either. She huffed a sigh as he said they were at the Colosseum. She leaned in when he did.]

Shadow! No need to yell at him... [She chided gently.] He's keeping me company on the Colosseum steps. I thought he was you and kind of hugged him. I'm okay really!

[limiterrings]

[ he groans.

his temper calming, clicking his tongue as he while falling silent on the other side of the phone. the addition of her hugging that fake does stir some sort of jealousy in his heart, but it goes and quick as it leaves. ]

Maria... I'm glad you're safe.

[ not that she hugged him! he won't let that sit on the forefront of his mind (he will), but he's understanding that the copy has stayed by her side this entire time. even from the sound of things, it seems like she trusts him.

the tone of his voice grows softer, not as loud and insulting as it was.

... ]

...Watch... after her... [ this request directed towards the other there with her. he's quiet again, then speaks up a few seconds after. ] I'll come as soon as I can.

[ [default] has ended the call. ]

[thelightshines]

[He might have let out a quiet groan when Maria mentioned hugging him. Did she really have to say that? He could only imagine how the other must have felt hearing it. He'll probably get an earful whenever they arrive. He lets out some air, now that they've hung up, tapping his earpiece to turn it off. The confirmation that he would do as his other requested, left unspoken. Such a short conversation and yet he's exhausted after that.] Should have kept out the hugging part.

[They are noticeably leaning too close to each other, so Shadow will move to properly sit upright again. Now left to awkwardly wait for the other arrive.

...Leaving him to his thoughts. He has many.] Is he always so...aggressive? [That moment of softness at the end...he didn't think that was possible after everything.]

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria's face flickered into something amused, but bashful.] Sorry If I embarrassed you. Shadow is really protective and well, I wanted to make sure he understood you weren't going to hurt me and that I trusted you.

[He might not be a Shadow that knows her, but he was still Shadow. Of course she would trust him. There was affection there too despite everything. She wanted to get to know him so that they could be friends too. She straightened when he did, folding her hands in her lap as she looked down at them. She really wouldn't mind a hot bath at some point. Or some way to wash her clothes. She was looking a little dirty from all the craziness from earlier. Those poor aliens...

Shadow speaking up next to her caught her attention and she looked over with a small sad smile.] Not like this. He's always been reserved and serious. intense. But...I don't remember him being this....[She frowned, trying to think of a word. Violent? Angry? So easily triggered? She sighed.]

Shadow was created to try and unlock the secrets of immortality and to possibly be a cure for my disease. There was a lot of dead ends and unsuccessful experiments and it bothered him a great deal. He felt as if he failed me. But I never thought of it that way. I love him because of who he is. And because he's my best friend. What he can or can't do doesn't matter to me. I always hold out the hope that a cure will be found someday. But our relationship doesn't depend on that.

[She brushed at a dark stain on her dress.] But....something happened to me. Something really bad. I think it changed him. [Subconsciously she knew. But on the surface level her memories were a jumble, and her current stresses didn't help matters.]

[thelightshines]

[Trusts him? Just like that? Sure, he's Shadow, but not her Shadow. By all accounts, she doesn't actually know anything about him. Never should have met. Catches him by surprise how quick and confident she was to immediately trust him. Then again, wasn't it the same when he first met his Maria...?

He wasn't expecting an elaborate answer, a deep dive into the other. His ears fall flat, looking at the pavement before him. It felt like he was intruding into something he shouldn't be privy to. But it's too late now, and his mind is already processing the information.

The differences between them were immediate. They're a creation, for the purpose of saving the Maria sitting beside him. That's...it felt like a personal reason, for whomever to have made them in order to heal single girl. The immortality part just felt added on. What sort of life that must of been, having to hear and learn of each and every unsucessful attempt. Over and over. A purpose had been given to them from the start, and they couldn't do it. He felt sadness, guilty almost. For he never had to this kind of misfortune weighing over him. Didn't have a sick Maria he needed to save.

By comparison, he felt like he somehow got the better end of it. Insane to even consider, but with all this coming to light, what else can he think? No wonder they're so grumpy. Maria expressing how much she loved him despite it all, it makes his heart starts to ache. For his own Maria. She cared for him unconditionally, when everyone else only saw him as a monster. A feeling he understands so much that it hurts, even when the sentiments are meant for the other.

He fidgets when she starts to talk about...herself, something happening to her. Hands balling up into fists. No. Did they meet a terrible end as well?] Stop. You don't need to continue. [No more. He's heard enough, he understands now. More than he feels like he should. He doesn't want to be reminded of that moment again. His nightmares already do that for him.]

[dreamsofearth]

[He was upset. He might not be her Shadow, but they were similar enough that Maria could tell instantly. His words clinched it, and she shifted to sit a little closer. Not trying to touch, but to at least offer some kind of warmth.]

I won't. I just wanted you to understand a little. [She said softly, looking at him with nothing but kindness.] Something must have happened to your Maria too. You don't have to say anything and I won't ask. I just...know. [She didn't have to know. She could see it in his body language. The angle of his ears and the tensed line of his body. His fists. She had learned to see those subtle signs in the darker hedgehog - and it translated well to this one too.]

I know I'm not her, but I'd still love to get to know you. You will always find a friend in me Shadow. You aren't alone. [She reached out and rested a hand on one of his fists gently.]

[thelightshines]

[Oh, he understood more than a little. And none of it sits right, having this information without the other being around. He feels something in gut, like butterflies. A pressure. Hearing her words, her assurance. They were just as kind as she was, just as willing to know him regardless of who or what he is. It hurts. He misses her so much.

His hand immediately jerks away when he felt her hand try to rest on his. Too quickly.] I don't want him to get the wrong idea. [The other seem prone to take action instead of talking. He doesn't want his other to mistakenly think he's taking her from them.]

[dreamsofearth]

[Maria flinches a little when he jerks his hand back. Not out of fear though, just the suddenness of the movement. It was clear just by the look in her eyes as she regarded him, that she didn't fear him. She shook her head a little at his words.]

Shadow? He won't. I'll just tell him. I've always been able to confide in him, just as he can with me. And that also extends to you. [The invitation would always be there, whenever he was ready to, she'd be there for him. Always.] He can't tell me who I can and can't be friends with. Just like I'd never do that to him.